Author: Tadevosian Garnik

ARMENIA HOPES TURKEY’S ACCESSION WILL INFLUENCE RELATIONS

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 23 2006

NICOSIA, Nov 23 (Reuters) – Armenia said on Thursday it hoped Turkish
moves towards EU accession would bring more open debate in Turkey
over accusations Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians
early in the 20th century.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian, talking to reporters during a
visit to Cyprus, said that Turkey’s expressed wish to join the European
Union should lead to normalisation of ties with all neighbours.

"Consequently the issue of Turkey’s accession course interests us
and we’re waiting to see it become what it should become. This will
certainly influence Armenian-Turkish relations," he said.

Armenians say Ottoman Turks conducted systematic genocide against
Armenians around 1915. Turkey, however, insists thousands of Muslim
Turks as well as Christian Armenians were killed at that time as
part of a general partisan conflict that raged as the Ottoman Empire
collapsed.

Debate of the issue in Turkey is restricted by laws that can
effectively make it an offence to discuss publicly let alone express
support for any notion of a genocide.

"We believe the process of Turkey’s accession to the EU will lead to a
more open and honest debate in Turkish society where people can express
their opinions," Kocharian said. "I know this a difficult process."

Turkey is holding formal negotiations for EU membership but progress
is hampered by differences over the Mediterranean island of Cyprus
and over economic and political reforms.

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR HANDED HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 21 2006

The newly appointed Ambassador of Canada Ralph Lysyshyn (seat in
Moscow) handed his credentials to President Robert Kocharyan.

Congratulating the diplomat, the President wished his success in
carrying out his high mission. Robert Kocharyan highly appreciated
the assistance of the Canadian Government to the process of reforms
implemented in our country. The interlocutors emphasized the necessity
of expanding the political dialogue between the two countries and
promoting the trade and economic cooperation.

Noting that in the economic sphere the bilateral indices are
rather modest, Robert Kocharyan stressed the importance of more
coordinated activity, activation of business contacts and exchange of
information. According to the President, Armenia is interested in close
cooperation with the Canadian Agency for International Development.

The parties ascribed a particular role to the Armenian community in
the further development of bilateral relations.

During the meeting reference was made to the process of the Karabakh
conflict resolution, Armenian-Turkish relations, other regional
questions.

RUSSIAN AND FRENCH CO-CHAIRS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP ARE IN YEREVAN

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2006

The Chairmen of OSCE MG from Russia and France, Yuri Merzliakov and
Bernard Fassier, have arrived in Yerevan, the acting press-secretary
of RA FM, Vladimir Karapetyan, told ArmInfo. According to him, the
Cochairmen will meet today, at 11:00 AM, with the RA Foreign Minister,
Vardan Oskanyan, Trend reports citing ArmIinfo.

After this meeting, the Cochairmen will be received by the Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan "The visit of the Cochairmen will be
held upon the results of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels", V. Karapetyan said. He added
that a possibility of organizing a meeting of the Presidents, Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, within the frames of the Minsk summit of
CIS states on November 28 will be discussed.

In is turn, as ArmInfo was told in the USA Embassy in Armenia,
that the American Cochairman, Mathew Bryza, could not join the rest
Cochairmen and arrive in Yerevan due to a loaded working schedule.

ARMENIAN EMBASSY UNVEILED IN BERLIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.11.2006 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Bundestag
chairman Norbert Lammert, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian, German
entrepreneurs and politicians we well as the Armenian community members
took part in the opening ceremony of the new building of the Armenian
Embassy in Berlin. In his speech Vartan Oskanian described as symbolic
the fact that the new Embassy premises opened several days after the
signing of the Armenia-EU Action Plan within the New Neighborhood
Policy. Proceeding with his working visit to Germany President
Kocharian will meet today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
address the Berterksnam Fund with a lecture entitled "15 years of
independence. Armenia’s way towards democracy," reports Mediamax.

WILL USA DISPLAY ROUGH ATTITUDE TOWARDS ARMENIA?

A1+
[05:24 pm] 16 November, 2006

The Representatives of Dashnatsutyun (ARF) Party inspire great hopes
from the victory of the Democrats in the recent U.S. elections. They
voice hope that the Senate might recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Today, Kiro Manoyan, head of the Armenian Cause, briefed the
journalists on the reasons for such optimistic expectations; the
presidential elections are still ahead and the newly elected senators,
both the Republicans and the Democrats, seek cooperation with the
Armenian community, as the latter renders them high-level assistance.

In reply to the journalists’ hints that a lot of high-rank officials,
including George Bush, have given promises but the Genocide has not
been recognized so far, Mr. Manoyan claims that he hopes "this time
the Democrats will make a step ahead". But they need serious and
purposeful assistance of the Armenian community.

As for the alternation of the U.S. stance towards Armenia after the
Democrats’ victory in the elections, Mr. Manoyan noted that the USA
will become coarse in respect of democracy and Armenia must be on
alert. In his words, the USA will display certain rough attitude
towards Armenia in pre-election period as well.

But America will not deprive Armenia of the money allotted to the
country within the framework of "Millennium Challenges" Cooperation
as the USA will try to hold the control lingers over Armenia tight.

While speaking of the security systems, Mr. Manoyan noted that Armenia
must be trustworthy partner in any sphere.

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS WITH HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 17 2006

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today met with his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Antalya on the sidelines of the
eighth Summit of the Heads of Turkish-speaking States.

Both leaders stressed the importance of the global energy projects
including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipelines.

Ilham Aliyev and Ahmet Necdet Sezer said the bilateral relations
between their countries are rapidly developing.

They described the Antalya Summit as a success, and stressed its
importance in terms of enhancement of the bilateral ties between the
two countries’ people.

The Turkish President congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart on
signing the action plan of neighborhood policy with the European Union.

The Azerbaijani leader informed Mr. Sezer on his country’s policy
towards integration into Europe.

Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ahmet Necdet Sezer reiterated his country’s stance on the dispute,
adding it should be peacefully solved in accordance with the principle
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The two presidents also discussed a range of other issues of mutual
concern including the latest developments in the region.

RELIGIONS MUST BECOME THE MORAL VOICE OF SOCIETY, HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONSIDERS

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006

"The world is on the edge of moral collapse. If things go unchanged,
moral collapse will bring about economic, political and ecological
collapse. Religion is a source of moral values. By becoming the moral
voice of the world, religions may work together to save humanity
from new crises", said His Holiness in his closing remarks to the
inter-religious conference, taking place at the Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.

The conference, which was the first of its kind and was initiated by
His Holiness Aram I, brought together representatives of religions
of the Middle East and Asia in order to learn more about each other.

"The knowledge gained through dialogue about each other will generate
mutual understanding and respect and will pave the way towards mutual
trust", said Aram I and reminded that "we have our differences and we
must remain faithful to our roots, identities, values and traditions;
at the same time, we must accept each other the way we are".

Considering their common values a solid basis for the religions to
act together, Aram I emphasized particularly the "bridge-building"
role of religions in a world characterized by "extremes, tensions and
polarizations". He said that "because political consensus is always
provisional, societies need bridges that are sustained by faith,
spirituality and moral values".

Referring to the theme of the conference, "Recommitment to
Spirituality", His Holiness warned of "false spiritualities, which
are establishing their dominance in our societies", and called for a
spirituality "that combats the evil forces and empowers human beings
by the presence of Transcendence."

TURKEY FREEZES MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE – AGENCY

Reuters, UK
Nov 16 2006

ANKARA, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Turkey has frozen all military ties with
France in protest over the French parliament’s support for a bill
making it a crime to deny claims of an Armenian genocide, the state
Anatolian news agency said on Wednesday.

The National Assembly voted last month in favour of the bill,
triggering angry protests and threats of a trade boycott in Turkey,
which strongly rejects the claims that Ottoman Turks committed genocide
against Armenians during World War One.

The bill is unlikely to become law due to opposition from the Senate
and President Jacques Chirac, but Turkish leaders have said the
National Assembly’s move will harm bilateral ties.

"Relations with France in the military field have been suspended,"
Anatolian quoted General Ilker Basbug, head of Turkey’s land forces,
as saying.

"High level visits between the two countries are not being made,"
added Basbug, who is number two in the hierarchy of Turkey’s powerful
armed forces. He gave no further details.

The French foreign ministry declined to comment.

French defence firms view NATO member Turkey, which has a fast-growing
economy, as a lucrative market for their hardware.

The Armenian issue is very sensitive in Turkey, which denies any
genocide took place but says large numbers of both Muslim Turks and
Christian Armenians were killed in a partisan conflict that raged on
Turkish soil as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

France, which holds elections next year, is home to the largest
Armenian diaspora in Europe.

Chirac said during a recent visit to Yerevan that Turkey must accept
the genocide before it can join the European Union.

Turkey began EU entry talks last year but the large Muslim country’s
accession bid faces growing opposition from some existing member
states, including France.

ARMENIAN, AZERI FOREIGN MINISTERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EU COOPERATION

Armenian Public TV
Nov 14 2006

[Presenter] A new page opens in Armenia-EU relations today. The
Armenia-EU Action Plan as part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy
will be signed in Brussels today. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan is to meet Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
after the signing ceremony.

The Armenian foreign minister has told a news conference jointly
given by three South Caucasus foreign ministers and the EU leadership
[in Brussels] that this meeting is not a usual one and creates new
opportunites for continuing talks.

[Correspondent reported from Brussels by phone] The sides discussed
the Nagornyy Karabakh, Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts within the
framework of regional issues, the current state of Russian-Georgian
relations and cooperation between the three South Caucasus countries as
part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy. The Armenia-EU Action Plan as
part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy will be signed on 14 November.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, speaking in English with
Armenian voice-over] This meeting cannot be regarded as usual. It
differs from all previous ones. A new page will open in Armenia-EU
relations. Our meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov is also different. We
will hold talks after signing the Action Plan within the framework
of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy. We will meet having a new signed
document in our hands which is regulating the approaches of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia.

[Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, speaking in Russian
with Armenian voice-over] The EU has synchronized the approaches of
the South Caucasus countries to integration into Europe.

[Correspondent] [EU Commissioner for External Relations] Benita
Ferrero-Waldner has described the signing of the Action Plan as a
transition to a new stage.

[Benita Ferrero-Waldner, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over]
Action plans are always different. They must assist regional
integration. We will work individually with all the [South Caucasus]
countries after signing the document. It will better if cooperation
assist political and economic ties even more.

[Correspondent] Elmar Mammadyarov is optimistic about South
Caucasus-Europe integration. He wished to see the transparent European
borders in South Caucasus.

[Elmar Mammadyarov] The Armenian foreign minister noted that Armenia
intends to move towards Europe and is happy about it. Why not, our
region should also have transparent borders as in Europe. Therefore,
we need to start acting in this direction.

[Correspondent] Elmar Mammadyarov also hopes that the process will
assist in resolving the refugees’ problems. But the Azerbaijani
foreign minister did not clarify the situation of Armenian refugees
from Shaumyan District [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy District] from this
standpoint. We should not avoid speaking about this, Mammadyarov said.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 10 2006

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES MEMBERS LIKELY TO HOLD
IMPORTANT POSITIONS AT THE U. S. CONGRESS

One day after winning majority control in the House of
Representatives, Democrats took back the U.S. Senate, with Armenian
issues supporters Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Durbin
(D-IL) positioned to serve as Majority Leader and Majority Whip
respectively, in the 110th Congress. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr.
(D-DE), also a staunch supporter, is expected to chair the powerful
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees policy concerning
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
All three Senators have raised awareness of the Armenian Genocide as
cosponsors of S. Res. 320, a resolution reaffirming the U.S. record
which is currently pending before the Foreign Relations Committee.
Reid, Durbin and Biden also voted to maintain Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act in an historic Senate floor fight in 1999 of
which, Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) led
the effort in maintaining Section 907 at that time. Sarbanes
announced his retirement from the Senate earlier this year and did
not seek re-election. The Assembly awarded him for his longstanding
support of Armenian issues during the National Advocacy Conference
and Banquet in March of this year.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said, `’The
Assembly will continue its bipartisan approach in the Senate and
looks forward to working with our Senate friends, as well as reaching
out to the new class of incoming Senators. We have much at stake and
will continue to promote an aggressive agenda to ensure a strong,
prosperous and democratic Armenia."
Ardouny also noted that Reid and Durbin, along with House
Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is
running for Majority Leader, have been consistent supporters of
Armenian issues. Their anticipated leadership positions in the next
Congress will provide new
opportunities for advancing key issues.
Several other Armenian issues supporters are slated to chair full
committees, including Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) – Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions; John Kerry (D-MA) – Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; Carl Levin (D-MI) – Armed Services; Tim Johnson
(D-SD)
– Select Committee on Ethics and others.
Senator George Allen (R-VA), an ardent supporter of Armenian issues,
conceded his re-election bid today, while Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Members Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Benjamin Cardin
(D-MD) both won seats in the Senate. Brown and Cardin both voted for
Section 907 in the House floor fight in 1998 and support
Armenia-specific legislation in the current Congress. Senator Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) was re-elected for a second term, while Republican
Rick Santorum was defeated in Pennsylvania’s Senate contest.